scholarly journals First Report of Powdery Mildew on Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) Caused by Golovinomyces biocellatus in Hungary

Plant Disease ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 94 (9) ◽  
pp. 1169-1169 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Kassai-Jáger ◽  
L. Kiss ◽  
Z. Váczy ◽  
K. Z. Váczy

Lemon balm is a well-known perennial, medicinal and culinary herb, and also a melliferous plant that is grown commercially in many parts of the world including Hungary. In October 2009, symptoms of powdery mildew infection were observed on lemon balm plants grown in several gardens in Budapest, Maklár, and Eger, Hungary, as well as in Ghenci, Romania. Abundant mycelium and conidial sporulation was observed on both leaf surfaces and stems. Conidia were produced in chains and were ellipsoid-ovoid to subcylindrical, measured 29 to 44 × 15 to 18 μm, and germinated with germ tubes produced apically or subapically on conidia. The basal septa of the conidiophores were sometimes displaced from the point of branching. The width of their foot cells increased from base to top and sometimes enlarged considerably at a particular point. Hyphal appressoria were nipple shaped. On the basis of these characteristics, the pathogen was identified as an Oidium sp. belonging to the subgenus Reticuloidium. The teleomorph stage was not found. To precisely identify the pathogen, DNA was extracted from mycelia collected from single leaves collected in Budapest and Ghenci with a Qiagen (Valencia, CA) DNeasy Plant Kit. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of the nrDNA were amplified and sequenced as described in Jankovics et al. (3). The two ITS sequences, deposited in GenBank under Accession Nos. HM156493 and HM156494, were identical to several ITS sequences of Golovinomyces biocellatus, such as AB307675, AF011291, and EU035602. Thus, the pathogen was identified as G. biocellatus based on the host plant species, anamorph morphology, and ITS sequence. It was clearly distinguished from Neoerysiphe galeopsidis, another powdery mildew species known to infect lemon balm in Europe (1). Specimens were deposited under Accession Nos. HAL 2369F and HAL 2370F at the Herbarium of Martin Luther University, Halle, Germany. Pathogenicity tests were carried out in cabinets within a controlled environment as described for other powdery mildews in Jankovics et al. (3) using five potted healthy lemon balm plants bought from a nursery. The first powdery mildew colonies appeared 7 to 10 days after inoculation, and 2 to 3 weeks later, nearly all the leaves and stems of the three inoculated plants became covered with powdery mildew mycelium. Light microscopy confirmed that the pathogen was the anamorph of G. biocellatus. The two noninoculated plants remained healthy. This confirmed the pathogenicity of the fungus collected from the field to lemon balm. G. biocellatus has long been known to infect lemon balm in some European countries and elsewhere (1), but was not listed as a pathogen of this plant species in Hungary (4). However, it was reported from Romania, a neighboring country, more than 30 years ago (2). This suggests that G. biocellatus might have occurred in Hungary on lemon balm during the past decades without being reported in the literature. References: (1) U. Braun. Beih. Nova Hedwigia 89:1, 1987. (2) O. Constantinescu and G. Negrean. Sydowia 29:75, 1976-77. (3) T. Jankovics et al. Phytopathology 98:529, 2008. (4) Sz. Nagy and L. Kiss. Acta Phytopathol. Entomol. Hung. 41:79, 2006.

2008 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 529-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Jankovics ◽  
Y. Bai ◽  
G. M. Kovács ◽  
M. Bardin ◽  
P. C. Nicot ◽  
...  

Previous works indicated a considerable variation in the pathogenicity, virulence, and host range of Oidium neolycopersici isolates causing tomato powdery mildew epidemics in many parts of the world. In this study, rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences, and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) patterns were analyzed in 17 O. neolycopersici samples collected in Europe, North America, and Japan, including those which overcame some of the tomato major resistance genes. The ITS sequences were identical in all 10 samples tested and were also identical to ITS sequences of eight previously studied O. neolycopersici specimens. The AFLP analysis revealed a high genetic diversity in O. neolycopersici and indicated that all 17 samples represented different genotypes. This might suggest the existence of either a yet unrevealed sexual reproduction or other genetic mechanisms that maintain a high genetic variability in O. neolycopersici. No clear correlation was found between the virulence and the AFLP patterns of the O. neolycopersici isolates studied. The relationship between O. neolycopersici and powdery mildew anamorphs infecting Aquilegia vulgaris, Chelidonium majus, Passiflora caerulea, and Sedum alboroseum was also investigated. These anamorphs are morphologically indistinguishable from and phylogenetically closely related to O. neolycopersici. The cross-inoculation tests and the analyses of ITS sequences and AFLP patterns jointly indicated that the powdery mildew anamorphs collected from the above mentioned plant species all represent distinct, but closely related species according to the phylogenetic species recognition. All these species were pathogenic only to their original host plant species, except O. neolycopersici which infected S. alboroseum, tobacco, petunia, and Arabidopsis thaliana, in addition to tomato, in cross-inoculation tests. This is the first genome-wide study that investigates the relationships among powdery mildews that are closely related based on ITS sequences and morphology. The results indicate that morphologically indistinguishable powdery mildews that differed in only one to five single nucleotide positions in their ITS region are to be considered as different taxa with distinct host ranges.


Plant Disease ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Kiss

Dollar-plant (Crassula ovata) is a perennial, succulent ornamental grown worldwide. In 1998, powdery mildew colonies were observed on the adaxial leaf surfaces of a 4-year-old specimen maintained outdoors. Symptoms included necrosis of the infected tissues and defoliation 2 months after the appearance of the first colonies. Conidia were produced in chains on unbranched conidiophores. Hyphal appressoria were lobed to multi-lobed, mostly opposite or spread. Conidia were ellipsoid to cylindrical, measured 34 to 48 μm × 17 to 26 μm, and contained no fibrosin bodies. On water agar, conidia produced a single germ tube from the end of the conidium. Germ tubes were either very short with lobed appressoria, or were two to three times longer than conidia, and terminated in lobed or unlobed appressoria. Cleistothecia were not produced. The pathogen was identified as an Oidium sp. belonging to the genus Erysiphe sect. Galeopsidis (1). To confirm pathogenicity, small, potted C. ovata plants were placed near the diseased plant in the laboratory. After 2 weeks, powdery mildew appeared on the small plants, and the pathogen was morphologically identical to the original fungus. This is the first report of a powdery mildew fungus on C. ovata, and it is different from both species of the Erysiphaceae identified on other Crassula spp. (1,2). Infected C. ovata leaves were deposited at the Department of Botany of the Hungarian Natural History Museum in Budapest under the accession number BP 91732. References: (1) U. Braun. 1995. The Powdery Mildews (Erysiphales) of Europe. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena. (2) D. F. Farr et al. 1989. Fungi on Plants and Plant Products in the United States. American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN.


Plant Disease ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 89 (6) ◽  
pp. 686-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. T. Koike ◽  
G. S. Saenz

Corn-salad or lamb's lettuce (Valerianella locusta) is a specialty leafy green, annual vegetable that is grown commercially in California for use in salads. During the summer (June through August) of 2004, field plantings in coastal California (Monterey County) showed symptoms and signs of a powdery mildew. White, ectophytic mycelia and conidia were present on leaves and petioles. Extensively colonized leaves were slightly twisted and later developed a tan necrosis. Mycelial growth was spread out, flat, sometimes dense, and colonized both sides of the leaf. Growth was more extensive on the upper leaf surfaces. Hyphae were 5 to 7.5 μm wide with nipple-shaped appressoria. Conidiophores were straight and had foot cells that were simple, mostly curved, measured 50 to 65 × 10 to 12.5 μm, and followed by two to three cells of equal size. Conidia developed in short chains. Conidia were cylindric to doliform, measured 27.5 to 32.5 × 15 to 17.5 μm, and lacked fibrosin bodies. Conidial length-to-width ratios were usually less than or equal to 2.0. Conidia germinated at the ends (cichoracearum-type) and had germ tube lengths that ranged from short to 1.0 to 1.5 times the length of the conidium; germ tubes had swollen tips. Cleistothecia were not observed. On the basis of these characteristics, the fungus is identified as Golovinomyces (Erysiphe) orontii(Cast.) Heluta (1). To demonstrate pathogenicity, heavily colonized corn-salad leaves from commercial plantings were collected and gently pressed onto leaves of potted corn-salad plants. Plants were then maintained in a greenhouse (22 to 24°C). After 8 to 10 days, symptoms and signs of powdery mildew developed on the foliage of inoculated plants, and the pathogen morphology matched that of the originally observed pathogen. Noninoculated control plants did not develop powdery mildew. To our knowledge, this is the first report of powdery mildew of corn-salad caused by G. orontii in the United States. This corn-salad disease has been reported from a number of countries in Europe (2). Because the presence of powdery mildew on the harvested foliage made the leaves unmarketable, part of the crop could not be sold. References: (1) U. Braun. Nova Hedwigia 89:1, 1987. (2) U. Braun. The Powdery Mildews (Erysiphales) of Europe. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena, Germany, 1995.


Plant Disease ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-329
Author(s):  
A. Garibaldi ◽  
G. Gilardi ◽  
D. Bertetti ◽  
M. L. Gullino

Rhododendron cultivation has a long history in northern Italy, where a wide selection of varieties and hybrids are grown. In summer 2001, a previously unknown powdery mildew was observed on azalea cv. Mollis (Rhododendron japonicum × R. molle) grown in several gardens in the province of Biella. Initial symptoms included chlorotic spots, followed by white fungal mycelia on both leaf surfaces. Eventually, infected leaves turned reddish and dropped prematurely. Fruit were also infected. On infected tissues, dark brown-to-black spherical cleistothecia developed, alone or in groups. The teleomorph was identified by light microscopy examination of cleistothecia. Cleistothecia measured 110 to 140 µm and were dark brown. They contained four to eight stalked or sessile asci that measured 35 to 45 µm × 40 to 55 µm, each containing six to eight ascospores. Ascospores were ellipsoid to ovoid and measured 12 to 18 µm × 20 to 25 µm. Cleistothecial characteristics were consistent with those described for Microsphaera azaleae but were different from those of the recently described species M. digitata reported in Belgium (1). The presence of conidia was rare in the specimens, so the anamorph could not be identified. To our knowledge, this is the first report of M. azaleae in Italy, but three outbreaks of powdery mildew on rhododendron were first reported in the United Kingdom on plants grown in glasshouses in the mid-1950s, 1969 and 1973 (1). Outdoors, powdery mildew was first reported on rhododendron in Europe in 1981. M. azaleae has been identified as the causal agent of rhododendron powdery mildew in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Switzerland (1). In most cases the disease is readily controlled by regular application of fungicides commonly used against powdery mildews of other crops. Reference: (1) A. J. Inman et al. J. Phytopathol. 148:17, 2000.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Wei Yeh ◽  
Pei-Yi Chou ◽  
Hsin-Yu Hou ◽  
Roland Kirschner

Abstract Background Production of medicinal plants in Taiwan is not only hampered by international market competition, but also lack of knowledge of their pathogens, such as powdery mildew fungi (Erysiphales, Ascomycota). Records of these fungi in Taiwan originate from few researchers for the last one hundred years and are still incomplete. Since powdery mildews in tropical/subtropical environments do not develop the sexual stages with morphologically diagnostic characteristics, internal transcribed spacer sequences (ITS) of the ribosomal RNA genes obtained from the asexual stages have become important modern tools for species identification. Results Powdery mildews on four medicinal plants from educational and ornamental plantations in Taiwan were identified based on the anamorph morphology and ITS sequences. Three powdery mildews on medicinal plants are new records for Taiwan, Arthrocladiella mougeotii on Lycium chinense, Erysiphe lespedezae on Uraria crinita, and E. lonicerae on Lonicera japonica. Eryngium foetidum is a new host for Erysiphe heraclei hitherto known on other host plants in Taiwan. Eryngium foetidum and Uraria crinita are new host plants for powdery mildews worldwide. Only specific field collection of the pathogens yielded the new records, not checking plant specimens in a phanerogam herbarium. The pathogens did not cause death of the host plants, but appeared to enhance stress by infection of mature leaves. Conclusions Taxonomic study of powdery mildews in Taiwan results into new host records of economically important medicinal plants in Taiwan with potential consequences for plant production and quarantine and also shows that host records are quite incomplete worldwide. Although ITS sequences were useful for species identification, the lack of data for several species on the same host genus on the one hand and the low variation between closely related species on the other indicate the need for further study.


Plant Disease ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 451-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Nischwitz ◽  
G. Newcombe

Caragana arborescens Lam. is an exotic ornamental that can also be somewhat invasive. In July 2002, powdery mildew was observed on C. arborescens along the Idaho-Washington border in Moscow and Pullman, respectively. Leaves were colonized as soon as they emerged, and entire plants were affected. The fungus covered both leaf surfaces, but cleistothecia were more abundant on abaxial surfaces. The mean diameter of the cleistothecia was 91 (± 9.8) μm. Short-stalked asci averaged 67 (± 7.1) μm × 37 (± 5.2) μm, and the ascospores were 21 (± 2.0) μm × 13 (± 0.8) μm. There are records of four species of Microsphaera on C. arborescens in Europe and Asia. The measurements fit the description of Microsphaera palczewskii Jacz. (1), and the identification was confirmed by comparison with specimens of this fungus on C. arborescens from Sweden (U.S. National Fungus Collections: BPI 749057 and 749058). Specimens of M. grossulariae (Wallr. ex Fr.) Lev. on Ribes divaricatum Dougl. from California (BPI 558266) were also examined, but the cleistothecial appendages were distinctly different from those of the Idaho specimens. To our knowledge, this is the first reported occurrence in North America of powdery mildew on C. arborescens and the first report of M. palczewskii. The latter may have been introduced recently into North America because there are areas in southern Canada and the northern United States in which C. arborescens is unaffected by powdery mildew. Interestingly, it is only in recent decades that M. palczewskii has spread from Asia into Europe (2). Now, host and parasite have been reunited in North America as well. Specimens have been deposited in the U.S. National Fungus Collections (BPI). References: (1) U. Braun. A monograph of the Erysiphales (powdery mildews) J. Cramer, Berlin-Stuttgarg, 1987. (2) S. Huhtinen et al. Karstenia 41:31, 2001.


Plant Disease ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 2973-2978
Author(s):  
Franca G. Rossi ◽  
Belachew Asalf ◽  
Chloe Grieu ◽  
Rodrigo B. Onofre ◽  
Natalia A. Peres ◽  
...  

In a number of pathosystems involving the powdery mildews (Erysiphales), plant stress is associated with decreased disease susceptibility and is detrimental to pathogen growth and reproduction. However, in strawberry, anecdotal observations associate severe powdery mildew (Podosphaera aphanis) with water stress. In a 2017 survey of 42 strawberry growers in Norway and California, 40 growers agreed with a statement that water-stressed strawberry plants were more susceptible to powdery mildew compared with nonstressed plants. In repeated in vitro and in vivo experiments, we found that water stress was consistently and significantly unfavorable to conidial germination, infection, and increases in disease severity. Deleterious effects on the pathogen were observed from both preinoculation and postinoculation water stress in the host. Soil moisture content in the range from 0 to 50% was correlated (R2 = 0.897) with germinability of conidia harvested from extant colonies that developed on plants growing at different levels of water stress. These studies confirm that P. aphanis fits the norm for biotrophic powdery mildews and hosts under stress. Mild water stress, compared with a state of optimal hydration, is likely to decrease rather than increase susceptibility of strawberry to P. aphanis. We believe it is possible that foliar symptoms of leaf curling due to diffuse and inconspicuous infection of the lower leaf surfaces by P. aphanis could easily be mistakenly attributed to water stress, which we observed as having a nearly identical leaf curling symptom in strawberry.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Wei Yeh ◽  
Pei-Yi Chou ◽  
Hsin-Yu Hou ◽  
Roland Kirschner

Abstract Background: Production of medicinal plants in Taiwan is not only hampered by international market competition, but also lack of knowledge of their pathogens, such as powdery mildew fungi (Erysiphales, Ascomycota). Records of these fungi in Taiwan originate from few researchers for the last one hundred years and are still incomplete. Since powdery mildews in tropical/subtropical environments rarely develop the sexual stages with morphologically diagnostic characteristics, internal transcribed spacer sequences (ITS) of the ribosomal RNA genes obtained from the asexual stages have become important modern tools for species identification.Results: Powdery mildews on medicinal plants from educational and ornamental plantations in Taiwan were identified based on the anamorph morphology and ITS sequences. Four powdery mildews on medicinal plants are new records for Taiwan, Arthrocladiella mougeotii on Lycium chinense, Erysiphe glycines on Pueraria lobata, Erysiphe lespedezae on Bauhinia sp., Desmodium caudatum, and Uraria crinita, and E. lonicerae on Lonicera japonica. Eryngium foetidum is a new host for Erysiphe heraclei hitherto known on other host plants in Taiwan. Eryngium foetidum and Uraria crinita are new host plants for powdery mildews worldwide. Only specific field collection of the pathogens yielded the new records, not checking plant specimens in a phanerogam herbarium. The pathogens did not cause death of the host plants, but appeared to enhance stress by infection of mature leaves.Conclusions: Taxonomic study of powdery mildews in Taiwan results into new host records of economically important medicinal plants in Taiwan with potential consequences for plant production and quarantine and also shows that host records are quite incomplete worldwide. Although ITS sequences were useful for species identification, the lack of data for several species on the same host genus on the one hand and the low variation between closely related species on the other indicate the need for further study.


Plant Disease ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 93 (9) ◽  
pp. 963-963 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Garibaldi ◽  
D. Bertetti ◽  
M. L. Gullino

Spider flower (Cleome hassleriana L. [synonym = C. spinosa]) is used as a tall border in parks and gardens worldwide. During July 2008, severe outbreaks of a powdery mildew were observed in a public park in Torino (northern Italy). Leaves were covered with dense, white hyphae and conidia, especially on the adaxial surface. Hyphae were also present on petioles and fruits, but not on petals and stems. As the disease progressed, infected leaves turned chlorotic, curled, and wilted. Conidia were hyaline, cylindrical, single, and measured 31.1 to 48.2 × 12.9 to 17.6 μm (average 37.1 × 15.6 μm). Germ tubes terminating in a moderately lobed appressorium were produced terminally. The cylindrical foot cells of the erect condiophores were 19.2 to 27.8 × 6.5 to 8.6 μm (average 23.3 × 7.7 μm). Fibrosin bodies were absent. Chasmothecia were observed mostly on the lower surfaces of leaves. At maturity, they were dark amber and spherical with a diameter of 92.9 to 151.0 μm (average 121.4 μm). Each chasmothecium contained six stalked asci (average size 63.7 × 35.9 μm). Each ascus contained four ellipsoid ascospores that measured 17.3 to 26.4 × 10.9 to 15.6 μm (average 23.3 × 12.8 μm). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified using primers ITS4/ITS6 and sequenced (1). The 602-bp sequence was deposited in GenBank under the Accession No. GQ149478 and was 99% similar to that of Erysiphe cruciferarum (Accession No. EU140958). As proof of pathogenicity, diseased leaves of C. hassleriana were pressed against leaves of three healthy 4-month-old potted plants of the same species for 10 min. Three noninoculated plants served as controls. Inoculated and noninoculated plants were maintained in a greenhouse at 22 to 25°C in isolation. After 11 days, typical powdery mildew colonies developed on inoculated plants. Noninoculated plants did not develop symptoms. The pathogenicity test was repeated once. Powdery mildew on C. hassleriana caused by E. cruciferarum was reported in Italy (2) but the pathogen was not characterized. Herbarium specimens are deposited at AGROINNOVA Collection, University of Torino, Italy. References: (1) S. F. Altschul et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389, 1997. (2) U. Braun. The Powdery Mildews (Erysiphales) of Europe. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena, Germany, 1995.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document